MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's soccer closes out its six-game road swing as it travels to UW-Milwaukee on Thursday at 7 p.m.
"While it may not look like we are doing well, I believe this team has great potential," 17th-year head coach Dr. Eric Johnson said. "We have tested ourselves against quality opponents and have been competitive in every game. We need to clean up a few things defensively and make some big plays offensively in order to turn it around and win a match."
The Leathernecks (1-4) will take on an unbeaten team for the fifth time in the first six games, as the Panthers (4-0-1) are receiving votes in the NSCAA national poll.
"Our freshmen are maturing quickly and contributing," Johnson added. "Milwaukee gives us another opportunity to get a road win versus a quality opponent. They are 4-0-1 and we will have to put in a very good 90 minutes or more to get a result."
Western Illinois will then return to Macomb for the home-opener against Valparaiso (Sept. 22) at 1 p.m.
BREAKDOWN:
WHO: Western Illinois at Milwaukee
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Engelmann Stadium
LIVE STATS: Click HERE
LIVE VIDEO (free): Click HERE
MATCH NOTES:
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS: UW-Milwaukee enters the match unbeaten, holding a 4-0-1 record overall...The Panthers received three points in the most recent NSCAA national poll, tied for 40th-most in the nation...Milwaukee is coming off a 3-0 win over Summit League member IUPUI...Laurie Bell leads the team in goals (3) and points (7)...The Panthers are tied for sixth in the nation in winning percentage (0.900)...They're also 23rd nationally in scoring offense (2.0 goals/game) and goals against average (0.56 goals allowed/game)...Liam Anderson has played every minute in net, earning 2 shutouts, an .864 save percentage and 0.56 goals against average...Milwaukee has already had three Horizon League 'Players of the Week': Robbie Boyd (Offensive - Sept. 16), Laurie Bell (Offensive - Sept. 9), and Liam Anderson (Defensive - Sept. 3).
SERIES HISTORY: The Panthers hold a 4-3-1 record against the Leathernecks all-time...Milwaukee has won four straight, including a 2-0 win in 2011.
THIS DATE IN HISTORY (Sept. 19): Western Illinois defeated Missouri Valley Conference foe Evansville by a 3-1 score in 2010...Current senior Charlie Bales tallied a goal and an assist, while fellow senior Husref Jupic also scored a goal...Current assistant coach Andy Ryan made five saves in the win...In 2004, Nowaf Jaman scored a pair of goals to lead the Leathernecks in a 3-0 shutout of Bowling Green.
LAST TIME OUT: Western Illinois went 0-2 at Missouri State's Baymont Inn Classic, falling 2-0 to Dayton and 2-1 to Missouri State in overtime...Three Leathernecks were named to the All-Tournament Team: Husref Jupic, Austin Gochneaur and Jacob Bevan...Jupic scored WIU's lone goal of the tournament, assisted by Mario Alvarez.
TOUGH COMPETITION: Including Milwaukee, five of the first six Western Illinois opponents have been unbeaten heading into the match against the Leathernecks...The only opponent who had a loss was Missouri State, who entered the contest with a 3-1 mark...WIU's next opponent, Valparaiso, is also unbeaten at 2-0-3, but travels to #18 Tulsa on Friday before coming to Macomb Sunday.
RECORD BOOK MOVEMENT: By recording his fifth career shutout at Jacksonville, Yves Dietrich moves into a three-way tie for ninth in program history...With a total of 115 career saves, he sits in 10th in saves per game (4.42), fourth in goals against average (1.25), and fifth in save percentage (.772)...Since individual shot on goal statistics started being recorded in 2002, Husref Jupic ranks seventh in the program with 47.
ATOP THE SUMMIT: Several Leathernecks rank at the top of the conference in statistical categories...Diego Lopez and Husref Jupic are tied for the lead in goals, with two apiece...Yves Dietrich is second in saves (25), save percentage (.758) and third in goals-against average (1.59).
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Keeper Yves Dietrich ranks 21st in saves (25) and 25th in saves per game (5.0)...Husref Jupic and Diego Lopez are tied for 98th nationally with two goals apiece.
WHO SCORES FIRST?: Since the start of the 2012 season, the Leathernecks are 8-1-0 when scoring first; however, if an opponent scores first, Western Illinois is just 0-11-3 in that same time frame.
GREAT DEBUT: Freshman Diego Lopez had a stellar debut weekend in Purple & Gold...He scored both Western Illinois goals, including his first collegiate goal at North Florida, and his first career game-winning goal at Jacksonville...His efforts earned him The Summit League's first 'Offensive Player of the Week' award of the season.
PRESEASON ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE: Charlie Bales, Drew Edmond and Austin Gochneaur were named to the College Sports Madness Preseason All-League Team...Bales earned a First Team nod, while Edmond and Gochneaur received Second Team honors.
WINNING LEGACY: Dr. Eric Johnson is the Summit League's all-time winningest coach, totaling 137 wins through his time at the helm at Western Illinois...He has earned the conference's 'Coach of the Year' award four times.
Projected Starters:
